Signal device



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Filed April 26. 1923 2 Sheets-snee: .l

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Patented May 31, 19221 UNITED STATI'lilS` FFICE.

EARL TI. PITNEY, F

SIGNAL DEVICE.

This invention relates to signal devices, specially adapted for use in connection with automobiles, to warn the public that a turn ing' `movement of the car, to the right or lel't. is about to occur,` the invention having` for one of its objects, to provide improved signaling means, specially adapted to be supported on the ordinary threaded inlet pipe oi an automobile radiator.. and .involving special `features of construction to contorni to ordina-ry 4automobile hoods, which hoods are zgenerally divided longitudinally. centrally of the machine, and are adapted to swing' upwardly about a longitudinally disposed pivotable connection thereat.

A turther object ot the invention is the provision of improved signaling; means `for indicating` the direction in which the ma#` chine is about to turn, wherein the movement ot' the signiticatory element ot the def vice is `controlled solely by a pair ot oppositely` disposed solenoids. which in turn may he rendered effective from point adjacent the driver.

A further object of the invention is the provision ot an improved electrically actuated device et the class described, which will be compact. cheap, and Simple ot' construction`r and which will be capable ot being attached to the radiator oit' an automobile in a manner to receive warlmth therefrom to prevent the oil in the mechanismtroml congealing in cold weather.

Otherfobjects and advantages ol the invention will be pointed out at opportune times, as this specification .prog-resses, the invention consisting in the construction, combination. and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specifica-tion:

Figure l, is a plan view of a radiator and hood oit' an automobile, showing myiIn proved signaling device attached thereto.

Figure E2, is a side view ot same.

Figure 3, is a front elevation ot the invention, shown Epartly in section. y

F figure el, is a topf view of Figure shown partly in section on line 4 4 thereof. l y

Figure 5, is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Figure 6. y l

Figure 6, is avsectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 5. y

Figure 7, is a diagrammatic view on line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Application filed April 26, 1923. Serial No. 634,742.

`Figure S, is a perspective view'ot ofthe sip'nticatory device. l i

Figure 9, is a perspective view of a detail. Figure l0, a wiring` diagram; and .Figurell is a view ot a detail.

"Referring to F igures i3 and #l of the drawthe casing are a pair .ot solenoids 5 and 5,

respectively. one tor` each end thereof.L Each of thesesolenoids comprises a `cylindrical spool`6`l1avin,q end tlanges 6 joined together by `a tubular body portion 6, which 'body portion is concentric with the internal diameter ot the casing'. said spools being formed et' non-conducting` anaterial, upon which are wound helices of wire 7 and 7, respectively, each of `said helices beinp, wound clockwise Jfrom their inner adjacent ends.

ln the interior ot the casing, one'located adjacent the inner endot each ot the solenoids to Aterm a stop therefor, are the core supports Esaid supports having bores 9 concentric kwith, the inner diameter ot' the casing` l and adapted to slidably support a preit'erably wrought iron core 10, which core normally loosely extends a distance into the interiorot the tubular body portion 6" of the spool. The core normally extends symmetrically beyond either side ot' a center line afa, n'iidway between the `ends o't thev casing.` The casing* is formed, symmetrically about the linea-ra with a laterally extending', hollow extension il. This extension is formed `with an' upwardly 'facing' circular inlet .opening l2, having` threaded engagementwith a suitable closure i3, said closure being' preferably formed with a transverse rib 13 to itorm a .grip wllereby it maybe screwed firmly into said opening?. The plane oit the top oi? `said extension is horizontally disposed .and approximately coinci` dent with `the top edge of the easing l, as shown in Figure 5, the cover 18 :tor said opening beim;` preferably flush with thetop ofthe extension.

` The extension is further yformed with a. vertical semi-circular partition wall 14, which wall extends downwardly beyond the longitudinal axis of the core 10.` and then inwardly to torni the wall 14C', which latter joins with the wall ot the casing 1. The inner wall olf the casing 1 is out away at 111 to he in open Connnnnieation with the chamber L, 'formed by the walls 141 and 1li', as; Shown in Figure ,G ofthe drawing. Located approximately between the core 10 and the wall lll-r, and being coneentrie with the latter, is a vertically disposed hub la, forming part ot `the eating; and having a Suitable \v bore 1G, wherein rotates the :shaft 1i'. l`he shaft is formed at its lower extremitywith a shoulder 18 and a reduced bearing portion 19, which latter is jonrnaled in the wall 111', the shoulder 1S forming an end bearingin engagement with Said wall. suitable retaining` screw E20, threaded in the end of the Shaft portion 19, heide the ebattportion 17 rotatably secured inthe easing.

Theelraft 17 is further formed with a shoulder 21;, whichshoulder is positioned slightly above the level ot the top Q2' ot the easingr extension 11. The shaft extends vertically from said shoulder through a hub 23 fontaine part of a direction indicating arm 24. A suitable set screw 25, threaded in the hub 23 and adapted to engage the shaft 17l serres ae an adjusting"meansl whereby the indicator arm may beadjusted eireumferentially on said shaft.

Rotatably mounted ou the shaft is the spur gear E26, which gear meshes with teeth Q7 formed inthe eide ot the core 10, thus constituting a gear rack, as; is bestehown in Figure f1 of the drawings. The gear iS formed with a hub 28. extending' between the hub 15 and the wall 14', and beingF cut away at opposite sides to torni opposi tely disposed segmental `lugs 28l rllnteiidingg` at right angles from the shatt 17 is a pin 29,` which pin extends normallyn'iid way between the lugs 28 of the gear hub. Extending from the under side of the core 10, and loated normally in lateral alinement with the pin 29, with respect to the'longitadinal axis ot' the core, is apin 30. This pin ie loeated midway between the ends ot the core. The periphery ot the gear 26 is preferably out away in a straight line to form an edge 31 parallel with the core. the lugs 28 being normally positioned symmetrically about a line drawn at right angles to the rore and intersecting the axis;` of the shaft 17. Extending upwardly in the easing 1, ie a boss 3l upon which is pirated by a pivot pin 33 for rotation in a horizontal plane, a V- shaped cani member 32, the pivot pin 33 being located in a vertical plane coincident with `the axis ottheshaft 17 and extending at rigrht anglee to the Core 10. The pivot 32.) is further slightly offset laterally from the pin 30 of the core, ae ie beet elnnrn in Figure G of the drawing?.

livotcd to swing laterally to the cani member 32 by means el' the wrtiral pivot pin Set, is the loch bar or lerer iueniher pin 30 ot' the Core to more the earn about its pivot 3Q responsive to a elidina' morenient of the Core. Thus. when `the more ie slid in one direction.` ae shown in lfiajnre?, thecam member ist raueed to turn upon ite pivot (which latter constitutes a hilcrum), and thus withdraw the loi-lt meiubor l5 from the notch 37 in the shaft 17. whereby the sha't't rendered treeto herotatinl. A ewinzgringir movement et the arm Ztlto the rightor left will impart rotary niovenuint to the shaft 17, and iu turn a lonaitinlirml sliding: movement to the core in the bearings 9. y y y Obyiouely; the notchesi or epaeee E28 he tween the here 28 in the freer hub will enable the gear to be freely rotfalril lo :i prei determined degree in eithery direction. or'

until the pin QS) engages; with the vertical edge of either ot the lugs Q8. ae el'iowia in Figure 7. `Reeponeive to a 'Further longritudinal movement ot the core. the shaft ll will be propelled by the pin Eil through a rotary movement and thus carry the arm lil through a ewinpfuie` increment either to the rigrl'it or lel't as the caer mar be. lt will be apparent that when the parte are in their normal position ae indicated in "Figure (l, the arm Effi is loe-lied against iateral ewinif' infr n'iorenient by the leyer member 215.

`lrelerably f'onrentrii.' with theehalii i7 and having' internal arrew ibrnailriil" and being preferably integral with the uae-init. it; a socket all. the latter heine" adapted in hare threaded einrarrement `with the ordinary threaded llangzje or inlet pipe oil an auto mobile radiator (one 'Form ol'Y whirh ie il ignated by the number iill. "lo mairia` irai-r proo't' Connection therewith. 'lhe interior of the socket ie in open ronnnuniralfion with the inlet paseageway lili. `liy remoii'inn' the eap 13, water may be :'iupplird lo the rinitator in the usual manner. The inlet nl' ihn extension il may be termed an entran-fion oi' the i'leual inlet pipe ol" in'dinarynutoniobihi radiators. i

The indicator arm Qt. whirh may bfi termed a Sienifiratory airain-inn` ie nroridml preferably with an illuminated.' hollow hiail 4.2, equipped with a .suitable inralnleeeent lill 1l lli lill lll)

lamp 43, the arm "Qibeing hollow or'tubular throughout its' lengtlnand in open communication with the hollow of the head, as shown in Figure 8 or" the drawings. 'lllhen the arm is in its normal inactive position, as shown in `Figure 2f ol` the drawing, it is suspended directly over and in alinement with the hinge connection f, thus not interfering with tlieopening of the hood members, as .indicatedin Figure ll. ,ln vFigure l0, g 'designates the usual steering wheel mounted on thesteering column it, the wheel being here shown carrying on its rim a pair of electric switches' 44C and 4st. The helices 7 and T surround the core l0, there being one Yfor each ot' said switches. The switch is connected in circuit with the helix 7, saidk circuit operating as follows: When the switch ill is closed; trom switch to helix i, to battery 45, to switch, the lamp being connected in said circuit to be energized thereby. The switch del is connected in circuit with the helix T and when closed, the .circuit will operate trom battery lo to switch, to helix 7, to battery, the lamp again being inv circuit to be energized when the switch is closed. By arbitrarily throwing either of the switches to close their respective circuits to which they belong, either of the solenoids 5 may be selectively energized to attract the core longitudinally into'the hollow, respectively.,v of the spools G, thereby actuating the gear 2G and communicating a swinging motion to the signiticatory element let, to the right or le'lt as the case may be, the lamp i3 being simultaneously also energized to eliect a signal at night. Then desired, an additional signal device may be placed at a conspicuous position at the rear ol' the automobile.`

ln Figure (i, 4T designates a wire outlet through which the conductors for the solenoids pass, from whence the conductors may be projected through the hood of the automobile, as at d8 (Figure 2), and thus lead to the steering wheel g.

In Figure 5, t9 designates an opening through which the electric conductors for the lamp ll extend, which conductors pass through the hollow arm 2l to the lamp, it being understood that the lamp conductors between the openings 49 and 5() are sul:- liciently slack to permit the arm to swing either to the right or left, as indicated in Figure 2 ol' the drawings. A stop pin 52, here shown, one carried by each of the spools t3, serves to stop the core to restrict the movement of the arm 2st when in signaling position.

In operation. when the switch di at the steering wheel is closed by the driver, the solenoid 5 will become energized to draw the core to the lett, thus swinging the arm 2st to the right with respect to the driver. Lil ewise, the closing of the-switch 44 will actuate the solenoid 5" andcause the `arm to be swung to the lett. The signilicatory element is thus held in direction indicating position asv tengas the respective circuits are closed by the res ective switches. n

To return the a m to itsnornnillocltcd position, the opposite solenoid is 4momentarily energized by a `quick opening and closingmovement ot the switch-to bri-ng it back to its normal rearwardly extending position over the hood olthe ca `Ags it approaches its normal position, the locking bar will engage the notch 37, as hereinbefore described, and thus lock the signiliratory element against swinging movement which might be caused from ordinary vibrations of the car body. As the distance from the point 5l to the outer end of the lever 35 (Figure 7) is appreciably smaller than the dist-ance between said point and the pivot 3st, and as the lever 35 engages with or tulcrunis against the sides ol the lugs '56, a considerable lateral pressure is required to be exerted by the side walls of the notch 3T to cause the` cam member 32 to be oscillated about its pivot However, the arm may be grasped by the hand and sullicient force be thus applied to move the core longitudinally. Thus, the lever is yieldingly held in its normal position in a manner to yield to an unusually severe lateral vibration ot' the automobile body.

l claim: y

l. A signal comprising a casing, opposed solenoids disposed therein, `a rack-like core reciprocable by the solenoids, a shaft having a locking recess, a signal carried thereby, a gear meshing` with the rack teeth ol the core mounted on said shaft, means loosely connecting the gea-r to the shaft to allow a slight relative movement therebetween, a pivoted locking member engageable in the recess oit the shaft, and means operable by the core and having` operative engagement with the lockingmember to release said locking member from said locking recess during an actuation of the device and to move said locking member into locking engagement with said recess during a restoration to normal thereof.

2. A signal device, comprising a casing, solenoids mounted therein, a rack-like core reciprocable by the solenoids, signal means pivotally mounted on said casing, means operatively connect-ing the rack-like core to the signal mea-ns, said connecting means having a limited movement independently ot' said signal means, and means lockingly engaging said signal means when the core is in a normal condition andhaving operative engagen'ient with said core to be withdrawn from locking engagement with said Tor lll)

llii

signal means upon an actuation of said core. l

23. A signal device, comprising` a casingn solenoids mounted therein, a rack-like core leeplocable by said solenods, n` gear having toothed engagement with said meh pivotally vmounted in said easing, a, shaft mounted axially of Said gear, und connected thereto to have u` limited osellntve 1novement independently of said gear, said shaft having al slot therein, a signal eul'led by said shaft, e toggle nosed dog` pvotnlly mounted adjacent said rhaft to normally engage sand `Slot, :t gulde hxedly eonneeted to the easing to normally prevent lateral oscillation of the toggle nose of said dog to lool; the shafteganet rotation, und e pin euri'ecl by the rack-like core and having operative engagement with suiddog to withdraw the toggle nose thereof from e11- gngement with said slot during :L limited osedlutve movement ol' said gem' ndependently of said shalt.

In testimony ture.'

EARL H. PITNEY,

whereof l uffi); my Signama 

